Can-punch



UNITED STATES PATENT GFP'ICE.y

JOHN G. HAND, OF KOXGMO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE SPEED-UP WRENCH AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

CAN-PUNCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in4 a Can-Punch, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a combination tool, and more particularly to the class of can punchers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, wherein the end of a can when hermetically sealed can he punctured at two points thereof, so that the contents of said can can be readily and convenientlyT dispensed therefrom, the punching spurs or members are of a novel form and are carried upon a body member which not only constitutes a lever, but also serves as a striking element to engage the spurs or punching members to be drlven into the end of the can with facility and without requiring a heavy blow by the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, wherein one end of the body thereof is constructed l and arranged to afford an ice pick or prying tip, while its opposite end is the sha e to serve as a bottle opener, thus the sai tool is adaptable for several purposes, thereby rendering the, same handy and useful.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a tool of this character where- 1n the construction thereof prevents the possibility of the punching spurs or members being driven too far in the end of a can or other like receptacle and thereby eliminating undue strain upon the latter, or spilling any of the contents thereof, While said punching spurs or members are of a novel shape to facilitate the easy puncturing of the can when the tool is in use for this purose. P A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purpose, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is the side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with the invent1on, showing the same in position relative to the end of a can for the puncturing thereof.

F 2 i s a top plan view of the tool.

Fig. 3 1s a perspective view of said tool looking toward the side thereof, opposite that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is the side elevation of a modified form of tool in accordance with the invention.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figs. 1 to 3 thereof.

The tool com rises a body A preferably in the form of a ar 5 slightly tapered from o ne end thereof to the other, and of substantlally square formation in cross-section, the Smaller end of the bar 5 being formed with a reduced pointed tip 6, which constitutes an ice pick or a prying element at the option of the user of the tool.

The other end of the bar 5 is formed with a loop-like portion 7 having therein the opposed web 8 and. nib 9, respectively, so that said loop portion 7 willconstitute and serve as a bottle opener for the removal of the metal crown caps from the bottle when the tool is operated for this purpose.

Formed on the bar 5 at the under side thereof are outwardly tapered diamond shaped punching spurs or pointed teeth 10 which are spaced the required distance apart from each other and adapted to be driven into the end of a can whenclosed for the puncturing of said can to permit the dispensing of the contents therefrom. The bar 5 adjacent to the spurs or teeth 10 at the outer sides thereof constitute shoulders 11 to limit the penetration or theinsertion of the spurs or teeth into the end of the can when the tool is operated for the puncturin of said can.

pon the upper side of the bar 5, medially relative to the spurs or teeth 10, is a circular shaped strikin head or knob 12, which can be struck by t e hand of the user when the tool is placed over the end of a can or other like receptacle, 13, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, 'so that the punching spurs or teeth 10 can be driven into the can and when the latter have passed through the end of the can, a predetermined distance, the shoulders 11 of the bar 5 contact with the edge of the can and thus prevent the said spurs or teeth 10 being driven too far within the end of the can and thereby relieve the end of the can or the body thereof from undue strain. The head or knob 12 is relatively thin and wide and arranged directly against the bar, and

during use of the tool for can punching purposes, the loop 7 may be utilized as a handle for maintaining the teeth or spurs in upright position with respect to the can, during application of pressure to the knob 12. When it is desired to punch but one opening in the can, the pointed extremity 6 of the bar may be utilized for the purpose, thus providing a punching element supplemental to the teeth or spurs 10.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a slight modiication of the invention, wherein the bar 14, constituting the body of the tool is devoid of the ice pick 6, and the loop portion 7, constituting the bottle opener, as in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, while this bar 14, is formed with the spurs or teeth 15 at the under side thereof, while at the upper side intermediate the location of the teeth is the striking knob 16 so that the modied form of the tool is'designed solely for puncturing the end of a can or other like receptacle.

The bar 14 at the outer sides of the spurs or teeth 15, provides the shoulders 17 for limiting the penetration of the spurs or teeth within the end of a can' when the tool is used for the puncturing thereof.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner of use of both the preferred and modified forms of the tool will be clearly understood, and therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, comprising a bar having punching spurs formed'on the under side thereof in spaced relation t0 each other, a striking head or knob carried medially of said bar and spurs and a handle member terminally of said bar.

2. As an article of manufacture, comprising a bar having punching spurs formed on the under side thereof in spaced relation to each other, a striking head orv knob formed on lthe upper portion of the. bar medially thereof and the said spurs, and a handle member arranged at one end of the bar to be held so as to prevent rocking of the tool on the spurs.

3. As an article of manufacture. comprising a bar having punching spurs formed n the underside thereof in spaced relation to each other, a striking head or knob form d on the upper portion ofthe bar located medially between the spurs and an open handle member carried terminally of the said bar and arrangedto be held so as to prevent rocking of the tool upon` the spurs when the striking head is detached.

4. As an article of manufacture, aI compound tool comprising a bar, punching spurs formed on the under side thereof, a pressure knob formed on the upper side of the bar intermediate the spurs, the bottom of said bar adjacent the spurs constituting shoulders to limit the penetration thereof, and a handle member carried by the opposite extremityv of the bar arranged to be' held to prevent rocking ofthe tool incident to application of pressure to the knob and the penetration of the punching spurs.

5. As an article of manufacture, a compound tool comprising a bar of metal, a pair -of spurs formed on the underside of the bar one spaced from the other, the portion of the bar adjacent the spurs constituting shoulders to limit the penetration thereof, a handle member formed at the opposite end of said bar, and a circular head member overlying the upper side of the bar at a point medially of the space between the pair of spurs on the underside thereof.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

JOI-IN G. HAND. 

